Wachen Wins $518,000 Jury Award in High-Profile Defamation Trial

Jury Finds School System Defamed Teacher

Photo Credit: Montgomery County Public Schools

Following a seven-day trial, a Maryland jury awarded Wachen LLC client, Daniel Engler, $518,000, finding the Board of Education of Montgomery County (Md.) Public Schools ("MCPS") had defamed Engler in a community-wide email falsely accusing him of racial remarks to students.

During intense questioning by Plaintiff's lead counsel David S. Wachen, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Principal Shelton Mooney, Jr. admitted he had made up the inflammatory quote in the defamatory email attributed to Engler. The defamatory email also reported that the police had been notified as a result of Engler's actions, falsely implying that Engler's actions were criminal.

The jury found that the defamatory email, which was reviewed and approved by Mooney's superiors at MCPS, caused substantial damage to Engler's reputation and emotional well-being, as well as economic harm due to his inability to teach for almost two years due to the impact of the false accusation against him.

Following the verdict, Wachen said, "We are grateful the jury held MCPS accountable for the serious harm caused to a dedicated, veteran teacher by an unprecedented community attack before the principal even bothered to hear Engler's side." According to Wachen, "This was a malicious case of 'shoot first, and ask questions later' that had a chilling effect on teachers in the area."

For more details about the case, see Engler's Complaint as well as coverage of the trial by Bethesda Magazine:

In the News:

• "MoCo school board ordered to pay $518K to former B-CC High teacher accused of racism"

• "B-CC principal testifies he made up quote in email central to racism defamation case"

• "Former B-CC teacher lawsuit alleging false accusations of racism underway"